Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-10-21
NORTH DAKOTA.
a Successful Fair Midst Enterprisins Peo-
pie.

a Successful Fair Midst Enterprisinc peo-
pie.
month ago the Bismarck Tribune
estimated the Dakota wheat crop at 81, 000,-
00O bushels. Now that estimate is con-
1irlned By the territorial statistician, Mr..
McCl,:re, who thinks it will even run over
that figure or this great yield the Red
river vale, counties will furnish the
largest proportion. AS the investigator
goes north the evidence of this mighty
harvest mutiplies, and the nearer he ap-
proaches the line the more convincing the
conclusion that GO, 900, 900 is the product.
In the lap of the northern half OF this
valley Of stacks rests the town of Grand
Forks. There the North Dakota fair has
just been held, and without drawing on
any considerable portion Of the territorial
division named, it was satisfactory sue
cess. The attendance was principally To-
cal, significantly proving that there are
people as we'll as wheat stacks tributary to
Grand Forks. TO be financially success
full Il fair must be held where the people
are. Transportation and weather
drawbacks will defeat the best fair posi-
BILE if the visitors have to travel far. The
great majority will be within an easy dis
ance. The last day Of the North Dakota
fair proved the wisdom of this years loca-
ton. There was no drawing card for that
day until late Friday afternoon. A purse
of $3.50 was raised by the town people,
and the Dakota and Minnesota girls agreed
to ride five mile race to win, "lile Ma
zeppa, like the wind" the winner to take
the purse. Quick advertising by dodgers,
by kilograms to convenient stations and by
the newspapers was sufficient to advise the
people within practical distance that
there was a sensation for the last day and
that it would pay to turn out to see trial
of speed and skill that might terminate
more pleasingly to their local pride. The
attendance the last day was, therefore,
large, and saved the management or its Sc
curity from loss. 1t turned the scales and
gave the association balance in the treas
ury. A little plucky history is worth
recalling in this connection. The Grand
Forks tornado last summer blew down tie
fair buildings, the grand stand, the sheds
and stalls and fences-made COM
plete wreck OF everything. The citizens
had already put up $4,000 to secure the
fair, and failure to rebuild the buildings
and place them in good condition would
forfeit the Sc 900. In the midst of the
consternation-nore CONSERVATION than
dumage-the outlook for complete set of
new bull iings and fences was not p~omis-
ing. The president of the North Dakota
association saw the dilemma the Grand
Forks people were in and promptly drew
on the banks for the $4,000 on the day
following the tornado when the press was
full Of the disaster. This was not con-
sidered kind OF necessary, and the
banks, led by Secretary Mccormack,
promptly refused to honor the drafts.
The buildings could be rebuilt, and
it was entirely too early to say that
they wouldn't be. This imputation moved
the spirited leaders of Grand Forks enter
prise to take vigorous action to rebuild the
fair buildings, save the $4,000 and hold
the fair in spite of their calamities. With
out any suggestion from any one. Vice
President Oakes Of the Northern Pacific,
contributed $500, and J. j. Hill followed
with $1,000 cash. This outside encour-
agement had its effect and the work of
reconstruction eliminated in complete
old and q credit to any county society in
the west The topography of the fair
grounds is level AMI the size is ample.
The half mile race track is almost per-
feet. Not one outsider in thousand
knows there is such course in Dakota.
It is in the language of all horsemen, ga
daisy" and the late fair was decided
SUCCESS in both attendance and exhibits.